PORT MORESBY/TAIPEI, (TAIWAN NEWS) – Taiwan has begun withdrawing its diplomatic and technical personnel from Papua New Guinea following a directive by the PNG Government to close its representative office in Port Moresby.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said several personnel would remain temporarily to oversee the closure, while all other diplomatic staff and workers of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, the government’s foreign aid agency, would leave the country.
The ministry said it would arrange for Taiwanese embassies and representative offices in neighbouring countries to provide consular assistance to about 100 Taiwanese nationals living in Papua New Guinea, with support from the Overseas Community Affairs Council.
Official vehicles, equipment and other movable assets at the office will be inventoried, auctioned or transferred in accordance with property management regulations.
Taiwan announced on Friday that it would close its de facto representative office in Papua New Guinea, which was established in 1990, following renewed demands by the PNG Government for its personnel to leave.
Papua New Guinea’s Department of Foreign Affairs said its Secretary, Elias Wohengu, had formally notified Taiwan’s representative, Chiu Chen-yu, of the decision.
The department gave Chiu and First Secretary Lee Chung-nun seven days to leave the country, while another diplomat, Pan Shao-jyun, would remain to oversee the closure process within a year.
Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said the decision to close the office and withdraw its personnel would be accompanied by a comprehensive review and adjustment of bilateral relations.
The ministry said the review would take into account Taiwan’s “national dignity, diplomatic autonomy and overall national interests”.
Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko first demanded the closure of Taiwan’s representative office on 16 July, citing PNG’s adherence to the One China policy.
Although the PNG Government announced the closure as immediate, Taiwan’s office continued operating following the initial directive.
In July, Taiwan also announced the suspension of spot purchases of Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas in response to the order to close its representative office.
The latest withdrawal marks a further deterioration in relations between Taiwan and Papua New Guinea, which maintains diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China under the One China policy…. PACNEWS